Google Launches Highly-Awaited Update for Chrome on Android Tablets — Here’s What It Has

Google Chrome for Android tablets is better than ever.

Google recently updated its Chrome web browser for Android tablets, adding more features to the popular application that would help users become more productive on their tablets.

This productivity-enhancing update is now available for download on all Android tablets.

Google Chrome Android Tablet Update Details

Google mentioned in its announcement it added a handful of new features to its Chrome web browser for Android tablets that makes navigating between tabs and getting work done on tablets faster and easier.

According to Digital Trends, thanks to this update, Google made its Chrome Android tablet app more like its desktop counterpart. Additionally, these new features will be immediately available for the Pixel Tablet when it is released sometime in 2023, per Tom's Guide.

Side-by-Side Design

To start, the web browser has a new side-by-side design that makes searching for a specific tab easier on tablets. Switching back and forth between tabs is also made simple through the app's new auto-scroll back feature, allowing users to jump back into the previous one immediately.

One-Step Restore Tab Option

Closing tabs accidentally when multiple tabs are open is also made harder due to the smaller close buttons. Despite this adjustment, however, closing a tab is still possible. As such, Google added a one-step restore tab option to re-open that tab and continue browsing.

Visual Tab Grid

Speaking of multiple tabs, opening one when many tabs are active could be difficult and may lead to unwanted tab closing. To solve this, Google added a visual tab grid to give users a preview of every tab open to make navigating easier and to avoid slugging through multiple tabs to open the one needed, per Tech Crunch.

Tab Groups

The search giant also added tab groups to the application, allowing people to group related tabs to reduce the number of tabs open in a single horizontal stream and to better focus on one task.

Unfortunately, the tab groups feature is not yet available on Android tablets as of press time. However, Google promises it will be added to the application soon.

Drag-And Drop

Android devices are known for their split-screen capabilities, a feature Apple has yet to implement in its many devices. Using this feature is a blast, but in the previous Google Chrome, users are not allowed to drag images, links, and even text from one screen to another, especially when using apps like Gmail.

To make uploading or inserting images, text, and links to another application, Google added a drag-and-drop feature that allows users to do just that with ease.

A More Efficient Desktop Mode Setting

Finally, opening desktop mode to view a certain website has become more efficient. With the new update, Google Chrome can now be set to always request and display the desktop version of a particular site of the user's choosing without opening a separate menu to do so.